City OKs engineering for streetwork

The Tucumcari City Commission on Thursday approved $107,000 in engineering services related to future street repairs near downtown and the south side.

Stantec Engineering will study what is required to fix South Third and South Fourth streets between West Main and West High streets. It also will study South Third Street from West Washington Avenue to one block south of West Estrella Avenue, near Interstate 40.

City manager Paula Chacon said an engineering study would make it easier for the city to more quickly receive a variety of funding sources, especially when the state is experiencing record revenue from the oil and gas sector.

She said Stantec’s engineering fee would be paid from the joint utility fund.

Chacon said she chose South Third and South Fourth streets because they’re main arteries that need the work the most. South Third from Main also connects to the Quay County Courthouse, Dunn Funeral Home, a city water dispenser and a Motor Vehicle Division office.

Chacon said if state funds are awarded for those streets, that would free up money for repairs on other streets.

She said she targeted South Jackson Street between East Main Street and Route 66, plus Rock Island Street. Chacon said those streets might be eligible for federal Community Development Block Grant funds.

Other items

— Commissioners approved Commissioner Christopher Arias’ offer to serve as a liaison to the Tucumcari MainStreet board. He replaces former mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield, who retired last month.

— Commissioners approved the formation of a finance committee with the mayor, city manager, city finance director and city clerk. Chacon said the committee would meet monthly to discuss finance matters and the budget.

— Commissioners approved an annual Open Meetings Act resolution that sets meeting dates and rules for special meetings. The only change was setting November meetings for Nov. 9 and Nov. 30 so they don’t conflict with the Thanksgiving holiday.

— Commissioners approved the designation of banking signatories, with Commissioner Paul Villanueva replacing Litchfield.

— Several items were removed from the agenda and a work session was canceled because the city was late in publishing notices and therefore would have been in violation of the state’s 72-hour notification law.

— Commissioners went into a closed executive session for one hour to discuss personnel matters with Chacon. They took no action when open session resumed.

Manager’s report

Items from Chacon’s regular report:

— She said she was checking into hiring a contractor to repair the city’s street lights. She said it had performed similar work for the City of Santa Rosa last year. Chacon said the contractor would offer a 15-year warranty and fix any broken street light in no more than three days.

On a related note, Chacon said street lights remained off near the Blaze-in-Saddle RV Park until Xcel Energy performs an inspection on them in the wake of work on South Mountain Road.

Commissioner Mike Cherry asked Chacon to check on Xcel’s responsibility with street lights before committing to the contractor. Arias also asked Chacon to have Xcel inspect street lights near Dunn Park.

— She said she submitted four requests for state capital outlay money: a new trash truck, street repairs, museum renovations and renovating the long-closed Princess Theatre.

— Chacon said she was working at rebuilding the main doors to city commission chambers and using the same materials. She said the city had considered replacing them with new doors but reconsidered after seeing higher-than-expected bids.

— She said the next meeting for the Princess Theatre would be Feb. 2. She said an engineer soon would provide estimates on renovating the city pool and Tucumcari Recreation Center.

— Chacon said contractors had begun construction on a new cell for the landfill. She said there was not a concern on existing landfill space, and she was meeting with contractors every two weeks to gauge their progress.

— Chacon said she soon would receive an invoice from Tucumcari Public Schools for repairs to an ambulance. She said the title to another ambulance donated by Texico was being transferred.

— Chacon said street work on the Gamble Addition would begin this week, and street work on the Aber Addition was going through the design process.

— She said a code enforcement officer opening had been filled and start work on Feb. 1. She said she was reviewing applicants for an animal control officer position.

Comments

Comments from commissioners and the public:

— Mayor Ralph Moya said three households in the 700 block of Magnolia Avenue reported poor water pressure after a deep cold snap last month.

Moya said five dogs had been adopted from the pound, and one more adoption would allow other dogs there to have kennels to themselves.

“They are just plain joy,” Moya said of the dogs at the pound. “They just want to be taken home.”

Moya also said contrary to rumor, he supports building a new Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari. He said he previously voted for measures to support the hospital’s construction.

— Arias said a new Tucumcari resident relayed one concern: overflowing trash bins outside city hall.

— Annie McCauley, who operates two downtown businesses, said decorative bricks at Second and Center streets prompt many tourists to stop there, thinking it’s a four-way stop.

Meanwhile, she said, many residents drive 30 to 40 mph on Second Street, and she feared a collision.

She said speed-limit signs on that street never were re-erected after construction was completed.